Last night, we encountered a completely unexpected ministry opportunity, had a wild adventure, and met our hermano favorito.
The Csterhood has been travelling to Panama from Nicaragua the last two days. We walked, caught a ferry, took a shuttle, walked across a border, had to split up, took a bus, walked a lot more, and then spent the night at a hostel in San José, Costa Rica. At the Costa Rican border, my group of eight Csters met a woman who told us that she and her children were going to a Bruno Mars concert in San José that night and tickets were only $45.
“NO WAY. BRUNO MARS. IN CONCERT. IN COSTA RICA. THE ONE NIGHT WE ARE HERE. 15 MINUTES FROM OUR HOSTEL.”
After some research and a lot of hyping up, we decided. We were going.
By the time we arrived at our hostel, the concert had already started, and tickets weren’t available online or by phone anymore, but we had confirmation on the phone that we could buy tickets at the gate. The four of us who had decided to go – Melissa, Hannah, Shea, and I – set out to find a taxi to take us to the Estadio Nacional, where the concert was happening. As we walked, Hannah prayed aloud for God to have His way with our evening, something I didn’t think to do at all. We tried to catch three different taxis, but they all drove past us. The last one pointed behind him and we walked a little bit and found a taxi parked by a parking lot. We asked him if he could take us to the Estadio National and for how much, and he said yes and for 5,000 colones ($9 USD). We were in!
On the way, I asked him his name and he told us, “Carlos.” I asked if he enjoyed driving a taxi and he told us that he had been driving for 35 years! He complimented our Spanish and I asked if he knew English, and he said no, but throughout our ride he kept saying things in English and we would call him out for it and we would all laugh. We sang Bruno Mars for him and he told us we have beautiful voices.
After we told him about our trip, I asked him if he believed in Jesus Christ and he said, “Sí! Yo creo en Dios! Soy hijo del Rey! [Yes! I believe in God! I am a son of the King!]” and I laughed and told him, “Entonces, eres nuestra hermano! [So, you are our brother!]” He told us (in Spanish), “I believe in my heart that you are very good women.” We were so touched by his kindness and sweet words. I told him, “Carlos, tú eres mi hermano favorito [Carlos, you are my favorite brother].” (Don’t worry, Scott & David, I loved you guys first!)
He drove us to the Estadio with incredible skill (35 years of driving pays off!). When we arrived there, he told us to wait in the car and he went to the gate to ask about ticket prices for us. Unfortunately, the gate was sold out of tickets, so our only option was to buy them from scalpers on the street. He came back and told us that scalpers are going to charge $100 USD or more for us since we are tourists. We told him that it was okay, we didn’t mind going back to the hostel. Without us even asking, he drove around the Estadio one more time and found different scalpers to ask about tickets. Still, they were asking $100-120 USD. No way, José! Home we went, content in knowing we tried our best.
A few blocks from the Estadio, Carlos made a comment that he was hungry and pulled over at a little tienda, leaving us to wait in the car. When he came back, he turned on the ceiling light and started handing each of us a napkin. I asked him skeptically, with humor, “Carlos… que estás haciendo? [Carlos, what are you doing?]” He laughed and wouldn’t tell me, but once all the napkins were passed out, he pulled out a box of little cakes! He gave each of us two little angel cake cupcakes and then pulled out four little bottles of juice – one for each of us! It was the sweetest and kindest gesture of friendship; we were so so touched. I told him, “Carlos, tú eres mi hermano favorito!”
As he drove us back to our hostel, he showed us the children’s hospital and the hospital for adults. He told us about how down one street, next week, there will be a big parade and festival of lights. Some of the lights were already up and we were oogling at them, so he took a hard left in traffic onto that street so we could see all the lights! I told him, “Carlos, tú eres mi hermano favorito!” He told us that he has driven all over Costa Rica in taxis and busses and shuttles. He even told us about his favorite places to go in Costa Rica!
On this street, we got a call from our Logistics Coordinator that the other half of our squad had arrived at the bus station but she had accidentally gone to the wrong bus station. We asked Carlos where the right station was and he took us straight there! What a gem. Our friends had already started walking to the hostel, so we jumped back in his taxi and he took us back to the hostel. When we arrived, he stopped the car and very seriously asked me what time we were leaving the next day. I told him 12pm, and he gave me his phone number and told me to call him an hour before we left and he would come get us – free of charge – and take us to the bus station. I told him, “Carlos, tú eres mi hermano favorito!” He said goodbye to us all with hugs and we took a group picture before we parted.
The four of us Csters had an incredible night hanging out with each other, seeing so much of San José, and meeting our hermano favorito. When Carlos first told us that he is a believer in Jesus, Hannah turned to me and said, “We will see him again in Heaven!” We didn’t get to see him this morning because we walked to the bus station, but I have so much hope and joy in my heart knowing that I will see my brother Carlos again in Heaven. Hallelujah! The Lord had so much bigger plans for us than just seeing Bruno Mars in concert. Thank you God for such an incredible evening and a new friend!
The Csterhood has split up again and is travelling in teams to our next month’s ministries. Wild Fires are on a 17-hour bus ride to Panama City! Pray for our safe travels, a restful trip, and peace over our team as we transition.
This morning, I was feeling unsettled about travel day because yesterday was not as great as I hoped; our group got on a crowded bus and were split up, the movies they played on the bus were loud and gave me a headache, and I wasn’t able to have a quiet time. This morning, in my quiet time, I read in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” So I began to pray specifically for things I “needed” for my travel day: a nice, clean bus with A.C., WiFi, no loud movies, rest, and a seat next to my teammate Naomi. A few verses later in Philippians 4:11&13, Paul talks about how he is thankful for the Philippians’ concern for him and says, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have… I can to everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
So I went into this morning with confident hope that Christ would strengthen me to handle whatever Travel Day threw at me. While walking a mile-ish with a 50+ pound big pack, 30-lb day pack, my Kavu, and a 10-lb bag of groceries, I thanked God for all of my belongings, for the physical ability to carry all of them, and for the endurance to keep walking when my back and shoulders hurt. And then, because God is such a good Poppa, our bus is everything I asked for and MORE! It’s empty enough that we could spread out to have two seats each (though Nomie and I decided to stay together) and there are outlets to charge our devices AND all the things I prayed for! Thank you God for hearing and answering my specific prayers!
Next time you hear from me, I will be in Month 3: Panama!
xoxo, Jess
